restrict a string field to a certain character set in access: validation rule: not like '*[!a-zA-Z(]*' (character set matches all that are not in the list of valid ones, using regexp-like syntax). order by a generated column in msaccess: you must reissue all the expressions for the column. e.g. if you do SELECT sqrt(bar) + 82 as blah from table order by blah; it will need to be rewritten as SELECT sqrt(bar) + 82 as blah from table order by (sqrt(bar) + 82) don't ask why